CPT christian peacemaker teams Vol. XXVI, No. 1; JAN-MARCH. 2016

TEAM REPORTS

colombia borderlands europe palestine As peace talks The rights and Seeking refuge and Israel razes villages continue, work for wrongs of crossing connection in a of Jenbah and justice doesn’t end the wall at center of time of borders and al-Halaweh p U.S. electionsp walls p p 5 From7 the Editor p.2 • 1 Corinthians8 13 p.1112 • Biking for Peace p.16

BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS TO TRANSFORM VIOLENCE AND OPPRESSION WORLD MAP

CPT From the Editor JENNIFER YODER [email protected]

Very early in my orientation at CPT, Tim words in U.S. politics has exploded to the Nafziger told me about CPTer Tom Fox. I surface as a billionaire candidate turns the had traveled to the Ojai Valley in upcoming presidential election into a California, where Tim lived, to learn more reality show. about the organization and the work I’d be We at CPT turn to our faiths, to our doing. Sometimes we sat at the computer partnerships with peacemakers around or called colleagues, but often we spoke the world, and each other for strength in on long hikes, surrounded by the beauty of this violence-filled world. the mountains and the landscape. In 2005, In this edition, you can read Tim Tom, along with James Loney, Harmeet Nafziger’s tribute to Tom and a piece by Singh Sooden and Norman Kember were Tom Fox, himself. In addition, I would taken hostage at gunpoint in Baghdad, highly encourage you to read Captivity by where a CPT team was operating then, James Loney, telling his story of 118 days in while on a CPT delegation. The other men captivity with Tom, Harmeet, and were rescued after 118 days of captivity. Norman; and the struggle for a world Tom, the lone U.S. citizen of the group, without war. You can get a copy directly was murdered 10 years ago, on March 9, from us, simply mark a $10 portion of your 2006. contribution in the included envelope or I often get asked why I do the work I do online toward Captivity. in a world that can seem to grow more 10 years later, we honor the memory of violent by the day. By the time you receive Tom as we continue our peacemaking this, the last several terrorist attacks in work around the world. Read here about the Ivory Coast, Brussels, and Pakistan our persistent peacemaking at borders in may not be the most recent anymore. the U.S. and Europe; in Colombia, Iraqi Fleeing violence, refugees flood across Kurdistan, Canada, and Palestine. oceans and borders in Europe and the US. In Christ’s Love and Liberation, Racist, xenophobic, and Islamophobic hate Jennifer A. Yoder - CPT Communications often hidden with polite talk and code and Engagement Director

Mailbag

THE HALDEMAN FAMILY, MIKE, RACHEL, & ANNIKA BUCHER SWANK, DECEMBER 12, 2015 FEBRUARY 1, 2016 “In lieu of buying Christmas gifts for each “Blessings to you as you continue to work other, our family (representing 3 for peace and justice in places often generations) recently began a tradition of overlooked and forgotten.” pooling funds to donate to a charity. This year, we are happy to contribute the ANONYMOUS VOICEMAIL, enclosed funds for the work of CPT, DECEMBER 22, 2015 bringing peace and reconciliation to places “Hi, I just wanted to say a small message of turmoil. God’s blessing on you during the to you guys. I’m a Muslim, and I really coming year. appreciate everything you do, not just for us, for everyone. God bless you guys, thank you very much. Peace, take care, salaam.” 2 CPT.ORG | CHICAGO, IL & TORONTO, ON | [email protected], [email protected] WORLD MAP

CPT TIM NAFZIGER [email protected]

Tim was a Reservist with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) living in London, England at the time of the kidnapping of four CPTers: Harmeet Sing Sooden, Norman Kember, Jim Loney and Tom Fox. For more background on Tom Fox’s story and his work with CPT see Pearl Hoover’s excellent essay “The Sermon on the Mount in the Life and Death of Tom Fox”. Dear Tom, On Christmas Day, 2004, These words we shaped with our teeth weeks after Margaret was kidnapped flaming into the gale, and killed shadows flickering and dancing you wrote about an image that came to you: on Alison on the fourth plinth “It was of a land of shadows and on the corner darkness. But within that land candles of the empty square were burning; not many but enough to where so many have marched, have shed some light on the landscape. Some burned before, beneath Lord Nelson’s candles disappeared and it was my sense sandstone glare that their light was taken away for protection. Other candles burned until 3,243 miles away, nothing was left and a small number of beyond the edge of the continent’s rim candles seemed to have their light you spent your last nights snuffed out by the shadows and the separate from Harmeet, Norman & Jim darkness. What was most striking to me quietly burning alone was that as these candles ceased burn, more candles came into being, seemingly promising release to build on their light.” they lied to you for the 105th time they lied to you for the last time Through that long winter one year later for they know not what they do. we spent fourteen cold wednesdays with candles lit Do they Tom? counting the windows on Trafalgar square In London, the news was a scarlet and orange sunset holding vigil for we knew not too much too take in what else to do, all at once; wondering if all was in vain; risk, wondering whether we were right; death, wondering if it was worth it. sacrifice; words collapsed, concrete as The same risks as soldiers we said bullets into your body Walk into the face of death Ron said in an abandoned lot outside Baghdad. “If I am ever called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice in love of enemy, I trust that God will give me the grace to do so.” you said (and Sheila remembered).

You can find this poem online with a quick search for “radical discipleship Tom Fox”. It forms a seasonal triptych with A Good Friday reflection on Texas Hold’Em as Lenten Practice...and A Christian Peacemaker Team’s poem: Advent’s Eve, 2005. CPT.ORG | CHICAGO, IL & TORONTO, ON | [email protected], [email protected] 3 WORLD MAP

CPT around the world I am reminded of how Easter they are living testimony to the seven paths noted by Wink. Yet as I marvel at their courage, spiritual depth and humor I feel a Thoughts certain heaviness in my heart. All of these paths are steep and treacherous. All of these paths have many Tom Fox Post to CPTers on what would be pitfalls. All of these paths seem to have no his last Easter, March 25, 2005 end. How do you sustain the conviction to keep going when there seems little chance of getting in the way of the millions of armed adults and children and the thousands of individuals, corporations and governments that use them to further TOM FOX agendas of domination and oppression? I’ve made it a practice for a number of Having the opportunity to spend a month years to read one of the Gospels during in Amman, Jordan taking the first step on the week of Easter. This year I’m reading the long journey to develop some capacity Mark. In that Gospel Jesus makes a one for speaking and reading the Arabic sentence theological summary that seems language is a great gift. It has also given me as radical and amazing now as it must have the time to actually read carefully all the seemed to those who heard it two posts on CPTnet and GITW rather than thousand years ago. read a couple and skim the rest. This being “This is the time of fulfillment. The reign Easter week I found my thoughts going out of God is at hand! Change your hearts and to all my colleagues in the field, as well as minds, and believe this Good News!” Mark those speaking and working back in their 1:15 home communities. My prayer for all is The struggle really is with the hearts and that this time of renewal and minds of all those millions of armed people transformation gives them hope for the and the thousands who make up the future and strength for the present. “powers that be” who send them out to Seven Paths to Jesus’ Third Way (from hold onto worldly power rather than “Engaging the Powers” by Walter Wink, subordinate themselves to the reign of pp. 186-187): God. But how do those thousands upon of 1. Seize the moral initiative by creating thousands of hearts and minds become alternatives to violence. changed? It all seems to come down to 2. Break the cycle of humiliation by asserting “agape” – the love of enemy that speaks to your own humanity and dignity as a person. the divine spark that everyone has within 3. Recognize your own power by standing your them. As long as there are human beings ground. there will be conflict. But the ways that 4. Seek the oppressor’s redemption and CPT and everyone else who has if necessary shame the oppressor into experienced a change of heart and mind repentance. can offer as alternatives to violent conflict 5. Die to the fear of the fallen Power’s order resolution can fan the flame of that divine and rules and be willing to face punishment spark within those who are trapped in the for breaking those unjust rules vicious circle of violence. 6. Refuse to submit to or to accept the inferior My prayer this Easter is that all associated position by exposing the injustices of the with CPT find the spiritual sustenance system to those in power. needed to continue the journey on the 7. Be willing to su er rather than retaliate and path to the Peaceable Realm. meet force with ironic humor. As I read the various posts from CPTers Peace, Tom Fox 4 CPT.ORG | CHICAGO, IL & TORONTO, ON | [email protected], [email protected] WORLD MAP

COLOMBIA

Listening and learning from the women on a tour of Northeast Antioquia. From the Road in Plaza Nueva

HANNAH REDEKOP | COLOMBIA TEAM [email protected]

Two CPTers traveled with our political organizing becomes more partners, CAHUCOPANA, a difficult. In a town where there could humanitarian organization for be up to 30 eligible women to coexistence and peace in Northeast participate in the women’s committee, Antioquia. We went with them across only five or six came to the meeting. the Northeast region of Antioquia on There are many reasons preventing a nine day tour, immersing ourselves in these women from actively organizing, CAHUCOPANA’s rigorous daily Luna explained to us. Sexism still holds schedule of workshops, meetings, and a tight grip on the region, where male lots of travel. partners prohibit women from On one leg of the journey, we set out attending the meetings, women are for a meeting of the Women’s unable to make time to participate Humanitarian Action Committee. We amidst an array of household tasks and left Caño Tigre around 10:00am, responsibilities, or they don’t feel that traveling four hours under a scorching participating would result in any sun across pastures and over hills, tangible change. then crossing through untouched Yolanda believes there is opportunity jungle and emerging out the other side for change. She has been the president and into the hamlet of Plaza Nueva. of the committee for four years, since Plaza Nueva is one of the more its inception. She has worked hard to concentrated villages in the region, help the women of Plaza Nueva gain boasting a couple of stores, a autonomy, applying for government restaurant, reliable electricity and grants for start-ups with chicken road access out to the municipal hatcheries and fish nurseries, and even capital of Remedios. a small artisan cooperative. Some have But with more economical and prospered and some have failed. She’s technological comforts, it seems the •  , page 6 ECAPCOLOMBIA.ORG | BARRANCABERMEJA, COLOMBIA| [email protected] 5 WORLD MAP

COLOMBIA •  , continued from, 5 Remedios but the insurance office stepping down as president now, assured her she could receive “because of other commitments, but I treatment across all of Antioquia. want to open the space for other When her husband Don Pacho was women to lead us too” she reflected. rushed to the hospital in Yondó after a But she still plans to remain involved, machete accident, she was informed and dreams of further education. that he could not receive care until Recently, she had participated in she went to Remedios and asked for a workshops organized by the provincial transfer of paperwork to Yondó. government in basic first aid and “Well then, let him die here,” she told medical training. Farming is a them. “I can’t possibly make it to hazardous occupation, and it’s far Remedios and back before he dies. more complicated when you are hours You have telephones here, why can’t away from medical services. She you call? Look, if the patient dies, you learned how to apply an IV and sew are responsible because he is in your stitches among other things. “But we care right now.” still need more, something more Then she went to the insurance office specialized you know? For example, in Yondó and they told her the same learning how to take blood samples, thing the hospital had said; she had to or how to tell if Doña Gladys has go to Remedios to sign for the transfer, appendicitis or if she just has cramps. and quickly because he could die. And I would love to finish my training, and she told them the same thing she told be able to continue giving workshops the hospital administration: “No ma’am. so that other women can also learn Then let him die here, because by the these skills” she said, with hopes of time I get back from Remedios he’ll be providing healthcare to every village of dead anyway. You have a telephone, the region. why can’t you make the call to order It’s a desperate need. We heard the the transfer?” she asked. She left the day before from the women in Caño office and headed back to the hospital. Tigre that in the event of a medical When she arrived back to her emergency it’s really difficult to get to husband’s side they called her. “Alright a hospital. The closest road is hours Doña, your documents are in order.” away by mule, on foot, or, if the We hear these stories regularly. patient is not able to walk, one has to Campesinos when maneuvering urban find enough people to carry them out settings in order to claim their rights in a hammock. After arriving to to services – be it health care, Campo Bijao, the patient has several education, or security among others – more hours of travel by truck, which are far too often pushed aside, treated could cost up to 400,000 pesos. unfairly, discriminated against, and Making it to the hospital is not the seen as uneducated and disposable. only obstacle that the campesinos face They often face deterrence tactics like in terms of health care in Northeast randomly chosen office hours, extra Antioquia. Each Colombian has the paperwork, or unnecessary errands, right to health care subsidies, like Doña Fabiola’s experience. according to their social status. Fortunately, Fabiola knows her rights Campesinos will have most, if not all, and how to stand up for them, thanks of their medical bills covered by the to CAHUCOPANA’s presence in the state, and theoretically receive care region. The workshops that Luna and from any medical centre in the Carlos have facilitated have province. But Doña Fabiola told us empowered Doña Fabiola, and many that it’s not that simple. She had her others, and ultimately saved Don family registered for health care in Pacho’s life. 6 ECAPCOLOMBIA.ORG | BARRANCABERMEJA, COLOMBIA| [email protected] WORLD MAP

BORDERLANDS

Delegates interact with Border Patrol Doing the Right Thing for the Right Reason

MELODY SHANK | BORDERLANDS DELEGATE PARTICIPANT [email protected]

The U.S./Mexican Border wall cuts a Victor has lived in New York since he brown line through the vast desert was 9 years old, worked in a restaurant, terrain. From my view on the Borderland and has a wife and 3 children. He Delegation with CPT, I can see it returned to Mexico only briefly—for spanning miles as it snakes to the three hours—to see his mother before horizon. This is the wall that Mexican she died. After leaving his mother, he and Central American migrants climb returned to the border to cross back and jump over, sometimes four or five into the U.S., the country that he calls times, to return to an established life in home. He became caught in a cycle of the US or to start a new one they hope trying to cross the border, being caught will be better than the one they have by Border Patrol, convicted through left behind. In the eyes of the Border Operation Streamline, a fast track Patrol and U.S. immigration policy, they means of processing illegal entry cases are doing the wrong thing. Without the in groups of up to 70 migrants, and sent proper “documentos,” they are breaking to detention. The 90-day sentence was the law. Period. his third. He has already served a 15-day In their eyes and those of their families, and a 30-day sentence. migrants from the South are doing the He will try again, he said, even though right thing for the right reason. Victor, a he will likely get a two year sentence 30-year-old man we met in the next time. In his heart, he is doing the Comedor, a migrant resource center right thing for the right reason. It is operated by Kino Border in Nogales, really the only thing he could imagine Sonora, had just been deported from doing. the US—dropped off by a bus at the In the documentary film, “The border—after serving for 90 days in a Undocumented”, we learned about private detention center for illegally another father, a man with four children, crossing the border. • RIGHT REASON, page 9 CPT.ORG | CHICAGO, IL & TORONTO, ON | [email protected], [email protected] 7 WORLD MAP

CPT-EUROPE Walking For A Better World

RONBIR MOHAMMAD | CPT EUROPE PARTICIPANT

This article is from a series of reflections: “The Border is Everywhere.” In the summer of 2013, I walked with a group of refugees and allies from Malmö in the South of Sweden to Stockholm as part of what we called “Aylstafetten” or Asylum Relay. We wished to transform Sweden to a country where refugees Marching for justice for refugees in the “Aylstafetten” would be treated as human or Asylum Relay. beings. Many of the refugees walking with us had no legal status and During the month we walked, conflicts were “without papers.” For many of broke out and were solved. Stories of them, it was the first time experiencing love, jealousy, tears, and laughter. The solidarity from so many white Europeans. solidarity between the walkers was so As we moved in the capital amidst its strong that sometimes, as I was simply power dynamics, some of those same walking along and smoking, my heart was dynamics were reproduced among the so filled with joy I wanted to shed tears. walkers, whether we wanted it or not. Ahmad joined the walk a few days after Some of us were white Swedes, others the start. He was from the countryside non-white Swedes born in Sweden, some in Bamyan, Afghanistan. He was short non-white Swedes born outside Sweden and thin, his eyes black and sad. His face who had acquired citizenship, others reminded me of a burned-out field. refugees with residence permits, and Sometimes he tried to make fun of some refugees lacking residence permits people in the same way he did in the but present in the country legally. The village of his birth. Most of the people did most vulnerable were refugees without not understand what was funny about his papers who could be captured at any stories. time and deported to “their countries”. “Once I was working in a factory in Iran But during the walk we were equals. and the owner had not been paying us for Whether we were swimming in the blue a while so we did not have any money to lakes of Sweden, walking past the small buy food. We ate rotten bread. We were red houses in the countryside, or handing sitting there, all the Afghans in the out leaflets and shouting slogans, we factory, and wetting the hard bread with were equals. We were equals when we water, in order to make it chewable,” he enjoyed the tasty Afghan food our fellow said and laughed. comrades made, or when we were When we did an action outside a singing, reciting poetry, and giving each detention center and talked with the other massages. We were comrades. • WALKING, page 9 8

WORLD MAP CPT

• RIGHT REASON, continued from 7 He would try again, who left his family in Mexico to make he said, even though the journey north. One of his sons he would likely get a two needed intensive medical care and the family couldn’t afford it. He left to find a year sentence next time. In better paying job in the US and send his heart, he was doing the money home. After the father left, the right thing for the right family did not receive the phone call he reason. It was really the had promised. They heard nothing. The only thing he could family was distraught. His son who lives imagine doing. in Chicago tried to find his father. He used all of the resources available to desert and over the wall, knowing well try to locate his father, but the that he may die was wrongheaded. But consulate, support organizations, and like Victor, this father saw no other medical examiners couldn’t match any means to support his family. He did human remains to his father. The son the right thing for the right reason. He was devastated; the family despaired. risked his life for the love of his family. Many would think that making the A noble and righteous deed in my arduous and dangerous trip across the eyes.

• WALKING, continued from 8 At our rallies most of the refugees’ refugees inside, people waiting for speeches were personal, about fear, deportation to uncertain destinations, he insecurity, daily life injustices, and so on. suffered a panic attack. He was shouting Ahmad addressed universal issues. He like one witnessing the slaughter of his was talking about the systematic comrades and knowing that soon it discrimination and exploitation of the would be his turn. The Swedish police poor, he was talking about the walls we could put him in there anytime. have built between us and between It took Ahmad some days to recover countries and groups of people. from the incident outside the detention Sometimes he wrote poems and center. After his recovery he was running wanted me to translate them into to all the cozy Swedish cottages, handing Swedish for our co-walkers. After he out leaflets to the people. Before the had given me dozens of poems about all incident, some of the Afghans were the universal problems he wanted to making fun of him because of his dialect solve, I asked, “Why do you never talk and sensitivity. But after that everyone about love? Why do you never express started to respect him, seeing the pain your anger about your own frustrations eating away at him from inside - like a and fears?” “There is no me,” he hungry lion. replied. “You are me, I am you, we are Once he told me, “I was swimming in everyone. My problems are everyone’s the Aegean sea with my friends. I could problems and everyone’s problems are not swim. Because my friends were my problems. When I address the making fun of me, I jumped into the problems of others, I address my own water and I sank. Suddenly my whole life problems and yours.” was shown to me as if in a movie. I saw Thus he sank in the sea. Thus he saw a all the people I had ever hurt. I wanted vision which made him a warrior of to heal all the wounds that the blade of light. Thus he walked with us for a my ignorance had made. I decided that if better world and opened up to share I ever made it back to the surface alive I the sharp gems of his mind would dedicate my life to fight for indiscriminately, regardless of being goodness, to be a warrior of light.” walled in or walled out. CPT.ORG | CHICAGO, IL & TORONTO, ON | [email protected], [email protected] 9 WORLD MAP

IRAQI-KURDISTAN Sleeping On Oil, Yet Freezing To Death

IRAQI-KURDISTAN TEAM [email protected]

“We’re sleeping on oil yet freezing to and gain more disputed historical Kurdish death” is how one Kurdish man summed up lands within Iraq. Yet, the trickle of the political climate here in Iraqi Kurdistan. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) - the War, dropping oil prices, corruption and cold and impersonal name given to people mismanagement of government funds have from within Iraq who have been driven led to a financial crisis. As a result, from their homes by ISIS - has not halted, government workers, making up over half adding to the deluge of refugees and IDPs of the population, have not been paid in six that have already flowed into Kurdistan. months. This, along with the current financial crisis, CPTer Muhammad, a fifth grade teacher, has led to a mixture of refugees, IDPs, and has worked without pay for over five Iraqi Kurds daring to brave the deadly months. For the past month, along with Aegean Sea in hope of a better life within the other school teachers, he has been on Europe. strike. Almost daily, instead of going to the Every few days the media report that school, Muhammad stops by the CPT “twelve people died” or “thirty people house and gives the latest news about the died” or “nine people died in the sea last strikes. night.” Everyone knows someone that has The other evening Janeh, one of the CPT braved the sea. One man said, “As Kurds, trainees, called the office saying she had to many of us have never seen the sea”; for leave her dorm immediately due to the many, “the first time they see the sea they closure of the college. Professors and dorm will die in it.” Sadly, this is the reality. cleaning staff had gone on strike and sent all NATO announced it will send warships to the students home. Janeh lives in Syria and the Aegean. The situation is so dire for the news left her with many unanswered many that they dare to risk crossing the questions about her future. deadly waters with their families and Recently several Peshmerga (Kurdish children because they see no other option. military) blocked a main road in protest of It is clear that people are at a breaking the unpaid salaries and traffic police refused point and leaving all behind in hopes for to work for several days. There have also adequate food, shelter and quality of life. It been small impromptu protests in the is also clear that they need financial and bazaar. Today schools and universities are humanitarian solutions, not warships. still completely closed. In addition, On the corner the local baker bakes fresh employees running the electrical plants and bread and construction workers are the city water said they will go on strike if smearing a final coat of cement on the they are not paid. facade of a new building being erected next War has devastated the region for door. Outside cars buzz by as taxis pick up decades leaving numerous political parties passengers heading to the bazaar and interwoven in a tapestry of agendas and points beyond. The city still has electricity, alignments with other foreign governments. meaning people are working yet another “I’m a lawyer in a jungle,” said the team’s day without pay. Kurdish friend Latif. Yet, each night, while the city sleeps, The flow of money from Baghdad has people are huddled in overcrowded rafts stopped as the Peshmerga push back ISIS somewhere in the Aegean sea. 10 FACEBOOK.COM/CPT.IK | SULEIMANI, IRAQI-KURDISTAN| [email protected] WORLD MAP

IPS

1 Corinthians 13 for CPTers

PETER HARESNAPE | INDIGENOUS PEOPLES SOLIDARITY TEAM [email protected]

If I speak about courage and justice, and things, believes all things, hopes all things, siding with the oppressed, and speaking truth endures all things. Love never ends. to power no matter the cost, but do not Clever words will be forgotten. The speak about love... I am just a loudmouth most interesting facts are subject to orator, a white saviour, a shameless self- revision. The best sermon you’ve ever promoter. heard – you will forget. Right now, If I am excellent at nonviolent everything we do is flawed and inaccurate. communication, and I take great pictures, But. One day we’ll experience Truth with and I know all the latest anti- a Capital T. And then all this will oppressive lingo, and I can be unnecessary. analyse racist systems so Before I was mature, I as to dismantle them was immature. In entirely, but have not becoming mature, I love, I am nothing. left behind ways of If I fully embrace the speaking, thinking work of prophet and and reasoning that activist and martyr, were immature. and get dragged away Right now we’re by the riot police or hearing murmurs, bombed by the military reading translations, of my own country, but seeing shadows on the have not love, that is no wall, but one day we’ll see use to anyone. face-to-face. Love is patient. Love survives evil, Right now, half of the time I’m war, oppression. It remains when the guessing, but one day I will know beyond teargas clears and the children go back to all doubt – and I will be fully known. school. It is still there when the water is What remains when it is all stripped away protected. Love is kind, not arrogant, not is three things: insisting on its own way, but making space Faith that the flawed world as we see it is for joy and truth even in the hardest not all that there is; circumstance. Hope that the next generation will live in Whether it is love between two people, a better world; or love of a person for their community, or and Love to give us the strength and love of a community for its land, or love of motivation to build it. justice and peace and equity, love bears all The greatest of these is Love. CPT-IPS.TUMBLR.COM | INDIGENOUS PEOPLES SOLIDARITY| [email protected] 11 WORLD MAP

PALESTINE

Kosi stands atop the rubble of his demolished home in Jenbah in the South Hebron Hills. His home was demolished on February 2, 2016. Demolished Homes Ethnic Cleansing continues across the West Bank

CODY O’ROURKE | CPTER IN BETHLEHEM [email protected]

Kosi stood upon the broken blocks and Palestinian villages of Khirbet Jenbah and twisted steel of the homes of his Khirbet al-Halawah on February 2, 2016, community with a steely glare of it was not surprising when the mediation acceptance and resistance as he briefed process broke down between the Israeli an international delegation on the recent military and the wider community of home demolitions in Khirbet Jenbah and Masafer Yatta. In fact, the rate at which Khirbet al-Halawah. He pointed to the the Israeli military has been demolishing homes which now lay in rubble, detailing Palestinian homes this year compared to how many children had lived in each one, last year is up nearly 400%. Here, the pointing out the caves and tents the Israeli military demolished 15 structures, families were now forced to sleep in displacing 60 people in Khirbet Jenbeh, during the winter months, chronicling his leaving 32 children were left without life under U.S.-supported Israeli military their warm rooms during the winter occupation, where his status doesn’t even months. As the military continued on to rise to the level of a second class citizen. Khirbet al-Halawah to demolish another His life and the lives of many Palestinians seven structures that were home to 50 living under Israeli military law are the people, including 32 minors, it simple logical outcome of a state that represented but another dark chapter of privileges one set of people over another. a long struggle of the Palestinian people When the the Israeli military razed the •   , page 13 12 CPTPALESTINE.ORG | HEBRON,PALESTINE | [email protected] WORLD MAP

PALESTINE •   , continued from page 12 homes to establish a “Firing Zone” is in these West Bank villages to remain in particularly dubious in the light of how their homes after the Israeli military the West Bank — in what was intended to established a military firing zone in the be the future home of a Palestinian area. state — is carved up. In the West Bank, The villages of Khirbet Jenbah and there is actually more area designated as Khirbet al-Halawah are two of 12 Israeli “Firing Zone” than designated Palestinian villages that make up the area “Area A” — the areas in which Palestinians of Masafer Yatta in the southernmost are suppose to enjoy full sovereignty and area of the West Bank. In the 1970s, autonomy. during the aftermath of the Six Day War, The home demolitions also represent the Israeli military declared the area Israel’s continued drift into a pariah state, encompassing these villages as a ‘Firing refusing to accept growing movements Zone’, an area set aside for the IDF to against their violence and criticism from perform their military drills and Europe and the U.S. European Foreign exercises. Palestinians living some 30,000 Ministers were extremely critical of the dunums of Masafer Yatta have been previous threat of the slated under threat of expulsion for demolitions in Susiyah, using decades. The 1,300-plus the language of “Forced residents have faced all kind Transfers” to condemn of attacks from the the move. Recently, even surrounding ring of Israeli the U.S. State settlements: home Department gave tacit demolitions, forced approval to the EU evictions during the middle labeling of Israeli of the night as means to settlement products, drive the indigenous people which better allows from their lands. In 1999, consumers to choose Israeli military issued Two of the young girls from Jenbah not to purchase these demolition orders to 700 impacted by the home demolitions. products made in the Palestinian residents, many violence of occupation. of whom were young children. The Israeli The move set the table for further military forced them into trucks and progressive moves in the Boycott, removed them by force. Divestment, and Sanctions movement — a Even the Jenbah school has a demolition movement the Israeli government views order on it, which, if executed by the as a strategic threat. Israeli military, will leave many small Israel so far refuses to give way to children without educational international pressure against the opportunities. expansion of settlements across the The residents of Masafer Yatta live West Bank. In the case of Masafer Yatta, mostly off the land and have historically they seem to find the benefits of land lived in the caves in the porous, hilly confiscation simply outweighs the risks of region raising sheep and goats. This has further international isolation. This is been difficult, as Israeli settlers have why we must continue to be in solidarity killed their livestock, shot holes through with Palestinian partners as their their water tanks, and at times burned movements grow, building pressure what little bit of agriculture the dry lands against this brutal occupation. yield. There have been no convictions of the Jewish settlers that routinely commit UPDATE: On March 22, 2016, the these acts of violence. Israeli military returned to Jenbah and The IDF’s quest to permanently dislodge demolished one more Palestinian home the Palestinians from their ancestral and several farming bins. CPTPALESTINE.ORG | HEBRON,PALESTINE | [email protected] 13 ANNUAL REPORT

Members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams give thanks for your support and solidarity. Walking together in the Way of Peace

Christian team members work together “If we have no peace, it in Hebron against human rights abuses, is because we have as Israeli Military killings of Palestinians at checkpoints has increased and forgotten that we belong demolitions continue at an unrelenting to each other.” pace. We held our second training in Iraqi Kurdistan, ensuring our work - Mother Teresa among multiple faiths continues there - the antithesis to violence aimed at We at CPT are so grateful for the erasing diversity. In Colombia, our work support of peacemakers like you. Take a with farming communities goes on - the look at our financial summary, and see search for justice does not end when just how much your contribution does peace talks begin. Our Indigenous for our peacemaking work. Over 50% of Peoples Solidarity team continues to our funding comes from individual work with Indigenous communities, supporters, and 90% of our spending is doing peacemaking work confronting on our programming and our environmental violence - a violence that peacemaking corps combined. can be nearly invisible even as its Your contributions and support consequences can be fatal. couldn’t come at a better time. At a This year, as Executive Director I’ve time when Christian communities in the experienced deep communion, new Global South are facing increasing conflicts, immense beauty, important pressures and Islamophobia is rising at questions, and every emotion. These alarming rates in the Global North, we are things that I need to sort through as remember that Muslim and Christian a 21st century peacemaker, and I’m peacemakers have long walked together grateful CPT is a courageous community and worked together on all levels of in which to do this. Thank you for being society for the glory of God and the on this rich journey with us. edification of humanity. We’ve labored shoulder to shoulder. At CPT, your contributions ensure we can continue to labor shoulder to Sarah Thompson shoulder. In Palestine, Muslim and Executive Director 14 CPT.ORG | CHICAGO, IL & TORONTO, ON | [email protected], [email protected] ANNUAL REPORT

2015 FINANCIAL SUMMARY

INCOME SUMMARY

SOURCE 2014 2015 Individuals 539,700/55% 618,500/ 57% Congregations 140,200/14% 137,900/ 13% Delegations 75,900/8% 138,000/ 13% Major Gifts 113,500/12% 85,300/ 8% Grants 98,300/ 10% 84,700/ 7% Other 13,000/ 1% 27,800/ 2% Total 980,600 1,092,200 EXPENSE SUMMARY

SOURCE 2014 2015 Program 445,300/41% 498,900/ 46% Peacemaker Corps 538,200/50% 501,100/ 46% Admin & Fundraising 83,900/ 8% 59,300/ 5% Other 12,400/ 1% 30,600/ 3% Total 1,079,800 1,089,900

CPT.ORG | CHICAGO, IL & TORONTO, ON | [email protected], [email protected] 15 2 cyclists, 50days 50states, peacemaking organizations like CPT. organizations peacemaking for $100,000 raise to effort their about CPT with Biking for Peace Peace Jones, for David Biking so important to you? to so important your trip? your nothing. do and can’t back sit Isimply can’t unknown. be that aknowing is there Palestine, to delegation CPT from returning After conflict. resolve not does violence that at 61, had I’ve attest I can experiences the With violence. in awash is world The aChristian. as Ibelieve what possible. as successful as be can Peace for so Biking possible as people many I’d as to word out the love get CPTers for to CPT: talked Peace For Biking from cyclists the of One DJ: DJ: CPT: Visit bikingforpeace.org and spread the word today! word the spread and bikingforpeace.org Visit 2016! July to May [email protected] Chicago, Illinois60680 USA: P.O. Box 6508 Fax: +1-773-376-0549 Tel: +1-773-376-0550 Social media blasts, and helping to get the word out. word out. the get to helping and blasts, media Social Because to do otherwise would be antithetical to antithetical be would otherwise do to Because Why is being someone who takes action for peace peace for action takes who someone being is Why What can CPT supporters to do help out with with out help do to supporters CPT can What • Presbyterian Peace Fellowship • Congregation ofSt.Basil(theBasilians) • Baptist Peace Fellowship America ofNorth • Mennonite Church USA • Mennonite Church Canada • FriendsUnited Meeting • Church ofthe Brethren Peace /OnEarth SPONSORS OFCPT

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